ROCHESTER — For one local Girl Scout, Christmas time is about making sure everyone has a merry holiday.

Ashley Wilkins, 13, an eighth-grader at Rochester Middle School, launched “Merrier Christmas For All,” a community-wide toy and clothing donation project to help achieve her “silver award” as a cadette in her Girl Scout troop. But, Wilkins explained her endeavor is worth much more to her than just the award.

“I wanted to do something that was important to me,” she said. “And I know times are tight. My dad got laid off a couple years ago, and I know how hard that affected us. I know some people aren’t as lucky as my dad, who got another job … and I thought if we could come together, we could help others.”

Ashley has called on her community to ask them to drop off clothing to a special donation box designated in the main office at the Rochester Middle School. She added about 47 of her peers have volunteered to help out and she thanked staff, her teachers and Principal Valerie McKenney, for being so encouraging.

“Rochester is more of a city and I’m hoping to bring us together as a group. I want to make sure everyone has a great Christmas because, you know, when you think back on Christmas, you want to think of running down the stairs and seeing presents under the tree and having a good time — not being told by your parents it’s not going to be good Christmas and that you’re sorry.”

Ashley has divided up families in need among several teams throughout the middle school. Students are tasked with purchasing specific requested gifts by families and then Ashley, along with the RMS Student Council will wrap the presents and deliver them to seven participating elementary schools on Monday, Dec. 17.

Ashley noted any extra gifts will be donated to Salvation Army, so that all of the toys brought in are put to use.

“This project means a lot to me. Families all over Rochester are struggling, and I believe that if we all rally together, we can make a difference,” Ashley wrote in an email. “We can make sure that it is a merrier Christmas for all.”

Donations will be accepted during school hours from Nov. 26 to Dec. 12.